Power conversion module for use with optical energy transfer and conversion system

Abstract

A power conversion system for converting optical energy received from a fiber optic line to electrical energy, the system comprises a housing, a heat sink within the housing, a high power connector coupled to the line and having an end positioned within the housing, beam forming optics within the interior space positioned proximal to the connector, and a partially spherical end array and annular arrays of photovoltaic chips.

We claim: 
     
       1. A power conversion system for converting high optical energy received from a fiber optic line to electrical energy, the system comprising:
 a housing comprising a housing body and a removable end plate with a partially-conical interior surface defining a conical cavity; 
 said housing body comprising an interior cylindrical surface adjacent to a closed end surface which define a housing cavity having a closed end and an open end; 
 said conical cavity and housing cavity formed around a centerline; 
 said conical cavity and housing cavity forming an interior space within said housing; 
 a photovoltaic end array within the housing cavity and proximal the closed end surface; 
 high power connector having a first end and a second end, said first end coupled to the fiber optic line, and the second end positioned within the interior space; 
 beam forming optics fixed to a mount on said end plate within the interior space positioned proximal to the second end of the said high power connector, said beam-forming optics having a focal plane; 
 said photovoltaic end array having a first plurality of photovoltaic chips, said first plurality of photovoltaic chips in a partially-spherical arrangement spaced a first radial distance from said beam forming optics; 
 at least one annular array having a second plurality of photovoltaic chips, said second plurality of photovoltaic chips in an annular arrangement, said at least one annular array longitudinally and separately positioned between said photovoltaic end array and said beam forming optics; 
 wherein said beam forming optics direct the received optical energy to impinge with a uniform flux on each of said first plurality of photovoltaic chips and of said second plurality of photovoltaic chips; 
 wherein each photovoltaic chip of said first and second pluralities of photovoltaic chips comprises a light-receiving surface having a normal vector intersecting the focal plane of said beam forming optics and wherein each of said photovoltaic end array and at least one annular array having a second plurality of photovoltaic chips are oriented at a predefined angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said interior space within said housing, said longitudinal axis being equidistant to each photovoltaic chip of said second plurality of photovoltaic chips of each of said at least one annular array, wherein said optical energy is high optical energy received from said fiber optic line and is converted in stages to electrical energy, wherein a maximum amount of electrical power is extracted, either from said high optical power or heat generated by said each photovoltaic chip of said first and second pluralities of photovoltaic chips, for use in a remote mobile platform, wherein a transmission end-use of large amounts of said high optical power is over distances, and wherein said remote mobile platform is an autonomous underwater vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. A power conversion system for converting optical energy received from a fiber optic line to electrical energy, the system comprising:
 a housing having at least one interior surface, said at least one interior surface defining an interior space within said housing; 
 a fluid inlet and fluid outlet connected to said housing; 
 high power connector having a first end coupled to the fiber optic line and a second end positioned within the interior space; 
 said high power connector further comprising a water-cooling inlet port and outlet port that form a fluid circulation path; 
 beam forming optics within the interior space positioned proximal to the second end of said high power connector, said beam forming optics having a focal plane; 
 a first heat sink within said interior space, said first heat sink extending inward toward said beam forming optics; 
 an end array mounted on said first heat sink, said end array having a first plurality of photovoltaic chips, said first plurality of photovoltaic chips in a partially-spherical arrangement spaced a first radial distance from said beam forming optics; 
 at least one annular array having a second plurality of photovoltaic chips mounted on said first heat sink, said second plurality of photovoltaic chips within said interior space and longitudinally positioned between said first plurality of photovoltaic chips and said beam-forming optics; 
 wherein each photovoltaic chip of said first and second pluralities of photovoltaic chips comprises a light-receiving surface having a normal vector intersecting the focal plane of said beam forming optics; 
 a second heat sink within said housing, said second heat sink having a plurality of channels therethrough; 
 a third heat sink within said housing, said third heat sink having a plurality of channels therethrough and in fluid communication with said second heat sink, wherein said plurality of channels in fluid communication with said fluid inlet, second heat sink, said third heat sink, and said fluid outlet define a fluid circulation path; 
 a work fluid in fluid communication with said second and third heat sinks, said work fluid for transferring heat via said fluid outlet; 
 an array of thermoelectric conversion chips mounted between said first heat sink and said second heat sink, wherein said array of thermoelectric conversion chips converts heat into electrical power at an efficiency of 2.9% and wherein said power conversion system is underwater, wherein the efficiency of said heat converted to electrical power is known as the electrical conversion efficiency, wherein said optical energy is high optical energy received from said fiber optic line and is converted in stages to electrical energy, wherein the maximum amount of electrical power is extracted, either from said high optical power or said heat, for use in a remote mobile platform, wherein a transmission end-use of large amounts of said high optical power is over relatively long distances, and wherein said remote mobile platform is an autonomous underwater vehicle. 
 
     
     
       3. The power conversion system of  claim 2  wherein said beam forming optics direct the received said high optical energy to impinge with a uniform flux on each of said first plurality of photovoltaic chips and of said second plurality of photovoltaic chips, wherein an electric conversion efficiency of said first and second plurality of photovoltaic chips is 42%. 
     
     
       4. The power conversion system of  claim 3  further comprising a first work object connected to said fluid outlet, said first work object receiving said transferred heat by said work fluid and converting said transferred heat to electrical power, wherein an electric conversion efficiency of said first work object is 20.7%. 
     
     
       5. The power conversion system of  claim 4  further comprising a second work object in fluid communication to said first work object, said second work object receiving said transferred heat by said work fluid and converting said transferred heat to electrical power, wherein an electric conversion efficiency of said second work object is 12.9%. 
     
     
       6. The power conversion system of  claim 5  wherein said first and second work objects are Stirling engines. 
     
     
       7. The power conversion system of  claim 6  wherein a total electrical conversion efficiency of said power conversion system is 78.5%, wherein said total electrical conversion efficiency comprises the summation of said electrical conversion efficiencies of said first and second plurality of photovoltaic chips, said array of thermoelectric conversion chips, and said first and second work objects.